DIY NAS / Server - Windows 2008 R2/ ATOM330 / RAID5 - 180MB diskcopy

[kievit72]

It can be done and works great. See the link for the server / nas I build from Atom 330 motherboard, 4Gb, Highpoint Raid card and 3*1.5TB.

The NAS runs windows server 2008 R2, can function for storage, but also win server tasks like mail, ftp, iSCSI etc. Besides that it is setup to run uTorrent en SABnzbd as services for automated downloading.

The box is completely headless, and managed via web, (remote desktop, remotely anywhere, uTorrent WebGui, SABnzbd WebGUI, Raid WebGUI etc.

Although the hardware is low cost and power efficient, the performance is great, 110MB copy over Gbps ethernet, 180MB direct diskcopy.

http://nas.kievit.me for details include built and configure instructions.

 

[00Roush]

Very interesting to hear. So far I have not seen anyone report copy speeds that high using an Atom CPU. I had actually considered building something similar a while back but so far didn't want to spend the cash on something that might not perform very well.

If you don't mind me asking how large of files have you used when testing file copy speed?

00Roush

 

[Osamede]

It can be done and works great. See the link for the server / nas I build from Atom 330 motherboard, 4Gb, Highpoint Raid card and 3*1.5TB.

The NAS runs windows server 2008 R2, can function for storage, but also win server tasks like mail, ftp, iSCSI etc. Besides that it is setup to run uTorrent en SABnzbd as services for automated downloading.

The box is completely headless, and managed via web, (remote desktop, remotely anywhere, uTorrent WebGui, SABnzbd WebGUI, Raid WebGUI etc.

Although the hardware is low cost and power efficient, the performance is great, 110MB copy over Gbps ethernet, 180MB direct diskcopy.

http://nas.kievit.me for details include built and configure instructions.

There is not really any discussion there of your experience, just stats. Can you tell us more about using Win 2008 R2 as the operating stystem. How was it to install, how is it to run, tips, pointers, how did you set it up for web operation, safetly and security issues with net-based remote access etc.

 

[kievit72]

Havent had time to go into details about experience of building it, planning to write down including do's and dont's. Will write it down on my site.

General remark about the whole setup,
- Hardware build was a breeze, fasten motherboard, connect drives, plugin memory, connect power / hd cables. Not a single problem, took me about 30 minutes (okay, I'build quite some systems so experience helps)
- only thing that always puzzles is the case connectors for power plug, hdled, reset switch, will take you 10 minutes with proper reading and good glasses

- windows setup went extremely smooth (have a legal version, so no hassle making it genuine etc...), ran out of the box, however some devices not recognized, needed manual install. No problems encountered with drivers. Win7 64 drivers do work if server drivers are not available.

Setting up SABnzbd and uTorrent as a service was the biggest issue. You need to fiddle with some config files and go fairly deep into SAB en uTorrent and into windows service + some registry settings (out of my head).
But after I got it right once it runs great, starts up with server, runs without any hassle. Another thing is setting up the fileserver. I didnt have much experience with win server and this took to me some time how to make good configurations that gives you rights per user (write /read) and both per folder or group of folders.

Win 2008 is great. Logging in and working on the box directly is okay, but a bit slow (i.e. starting up server management will take 20 secs). That is both with direct VGA cable and mouse/keyboard connection or via remote desktop. Funny thing is that you hardly cant tell difference between these 2.

Server tasks are fine and fast. Websites (for sab of utorrent run fast and react direct). You wouldnt tell that youre on some lightweight machine.

It is preferable to downsize the win server 2008 after install with an decent guide, disabling all services that you dont need, getting a system that only runs what you use.

For remote management I setup remotely anywhere server edition, works fine. Can do almost anything with it, folder management, remote desktop, reviewing and managing logs and taks.

Last.... I have setup some task that react to events on the machine and send me email. The possibilities under windows are very large, but also little complicated to setup. Have it working right now, but still not sure if I use the best way. Also, documentation seems to be limited

Thats it, check my site for more .....

 

[kievit72]

@00Roush:

I tried with copying files between 1GB and 10GB and sets of files between 1GB and 20GB. This is after I installed the hardware raidcard.

It's the RAID card that makes the difference, its a Highpoint 2320, that has a dedicated XOR chip, but no memory. This improved well over software Raid. (tried that for a while. Read speeds are good 105MB over Gbps, but write speeds are worse at 40MB/s max).